She left the X Factor on Sunday amid some controversy, but Hannah Barrett has said she believes it was the “right time” for her to leave the show.

The gracious singer appeared on Daybreak on Monday morning, shortly after her shock departure from the ITV competition, and said that while she was “upset” about being voted off, she “had a feeling” it was coming.

Hannah, 17, also took the opportunity to defend fellow contestant Tamera Foster, who avoided being in the bottom two despite forgetting the words to her song for the third time.

“I’ll say in her defence she did come in two beats earlier, so she had to stop and then jump back in again,” Hannah said.

“She gets really, really nervous and we do forget the fact that she’s only 16.”

Speaking about her exit, she added, “I actually feel really good you know, obviously I am a bit upset that I’ve left, but I’ve come so far – week seven!

“I had a feeling I would be going home because that was my third time in the bottom two, so I kind of accepted it and had fun with it.”

The talented youngster said she felt happier about her exit knowing it meant that Rough Copy could stay in the competition.

“I’m so close to Rough Copy… they are like my older brothers so I thought, ‘You know what If I’m in the bottom two with anyone, I’m so glad it’s with Rough Copy.'”

Hannah’s mentor Nicole Scherzinger expressed her frustration at the voting results live on air on Sunday. “I am so disappointed and furious with the British public right now, that they have my girl in the bottom two for the third time,” she said.

The popular judge later tweeted, “That last performance of Hannah said it all. Thanku to the believers! We didn’t lose because we are #Li-ving & this is just the beginning for @HannahBMusic.”